Diaper



E. P. DALEY Nbv. 25, 1958 DIAPER Filed June 1. 1954 INVENTOR.

EVELYN P. OALE) BY (8M4 M,M@w4,

A TTOR/VE Y8.

nited States Patent Ofiice 2,861,573 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 DIAPEREvelyn P. Daley, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application June 1, 1954, Serial N 0. 433,427

2 'Claims. (Cl. 128284) This invention relates to a new and usefuldiaper incorporating certain novel features of construction andproviding certain advantages over conventional diaper constructions aswill more clearly appear from the following.

One disadvantage commonly encountered with conventional diapers lies inthe fact that they do not absorb and hold moisture to keep the infantcomfortable when wet. As a result, immediately upon wetting the infantbecomes uncomfortable and insists on being changed, and often it iseither inconvenient or impossible to immediately change the infant,resulting in considerable distress. In addition, I feel that it is farbetter for the infant, even apart from the question of comfort, if thiscondition can be avoided.

It is a common practice to avoid this condition by using two diaperssimultaneously to provide the desired moisture absorbing and retainingaction, and it has been found that when sufiicient diaper material isprovided the infant will stay relatively comfortable for a longer periodof time; However, the simultaneous use of two or more diapers iscumbersome and awkward and of course doubles the number of diapers to becleaned, which often is a severe inconvenience.

It has previously been proposed to provide diapers with pockets forreceiving separate moisture absorbing material, and other similararrangements, but this has generally proved to be impractical for onereason or another.

Also, it is often desired to prevent the moisture from passing throughthe diaper, and waterproof pants are frequently used for this purpose.However, such pants have the severe disadvantage of keeping the infantquite warm, and this disadvantage is accentuated when the diaper doesnot absorb and retain suflicient moisture.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of my invention to provide a diaperconstruction which is readily fabricated and relatively inexpensive, andtherefore economically feasible, and which will provide a relativelylarge amount of diaper material suflicient to give the desired moistureabsorbing and retaining action.

It is another object of my invention to provide a diaper construction asaforesaid which is readily adjustable to a wide variety of sizes withoutrequiring special fastening devices or complicated features ofconstruction.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a diaper having theaforesaid characteristics and which is adapted to readily receive asheet of waterproof material to provide a waterproof diaper.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a diaper which isreadily secured in place on the infant with a snug and comfortable fit.

The foregoing and other objects of a diaper construction according to myinvention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detaileddescription, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein likeref Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a diaper constructed in accord with myinvention, the same being shown in a completely unfolded and fullyextended position ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken about along line IIII ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the diaper of Fig. 1 showing apreliminary folding step preparatory to use;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing themanner of applying the folded diaper to the infant;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing aslightly different folding of the diaper to provide a slightly smallersize thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the folded diaper of Fig. 5 appliedto the infant.

A diaper constructed in accord with my invention comprises an elongatedmain body member generally designated 1 and comprising a unitary pieceof suitable diaper material, such as birds-eye or gauze material. Bodymember 1 is considerably longer than the usual diaper which is of alength just sufficient to cover the lower trunk of an infant, forreasons which will become apparent, and is formed byfolding the saidpiece of material over upon itself at its opposite side edge portionsand stitching the opposite side edges together at the seam 2 whichextends approximately centrally of body member 1 for the entire lengththereof. This pro vides two separate layers 3 and 4 of diaper materialwith a single stitching operation on the folded material, and inaddition provides a pocket between said layers extending the length ofbody member 1 for a purpose to be described.

A pair of arms, generally designated 5, are secured to opposite sides ofthe body member 1 approximately midway of the length thereof. Arms 5 areadapted to extend around the waist of the infant, and can compriseconventional diaper material which is folded over upon itself forgreater strength and stitched together at 6. Arms 5 are secured to thebody member 1 by the stitching 7. Of course, the arms 5 can comprise anunfolded piece of material whereby the stitching 6 can be dispensedwith.

Also, for purposes of providing a snug fit about the waist of the infantI prefer to provide an elastic member 8 extending between the arms 5 andnormally tending to draw them together, as illustrated in Fig. l. Theelastic member 8 can be secured to arms 5 and body member 1 by thestitching 7 whereby arms 5 and elastic 8 can be secured to body member 1by the same stitching operation.

Arms 5 divide body member 1 into an upper portion 9, and a lower portion10, and lower portion 10 is of a length sutficient to encompass thelower trunk of the infant.

The operation of a diaper constructed in accord with my invention is asfollows. The upper end portion 9 of body member 1 is folded over theelastic 8 to lie flat against the lower end portion 10 of body member 1and it will be noted that in the illustrated embodiment the end of theportion 9 terminates short of the end of portion 10.

This will provide the largest size of the particular diaper illustratedherein, and the infant is then positioned on the folded over portion 9,and the portions 10 and 9 are then drawn upwardly through the crotch inthe usual manner as illustrated in Fig. 4. Arms 5 are then broughtupwardly around the sides of the infant and are pinned to the extendingend of the body member portion 10, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6.

Thus, the diaper is quickly and easily folded and applied to the infant,and it will be noted that my diaper construction provides four layers ofdiaper material around the crotch of the infant and these four layerswill absorb and hold enough moisture to keep the infant relativelycomfortable even though wet.

Should a slightly smaller diaper size be desired, the diaper is simplygiven a further folding operation as illustrated in Fig. '5 wherein theextending end of body member portion 16 is folded over the adjacent endof body member portion 9. This reduces the length of the folded diaper,and if desired a still shorter length can be provided by turning thefolded portion 9 back upon itself with the end of portion 10 beingfolded thereover. The diaper is then fitted to the infant in the mannerabove described and illustrated in Fig. 6, and the elastic 8, which iscovered by the folded portion 9, provides a yielding but snug fit.

Accordingly, it will be seen that a diaper construction according to myinvention is readily and inexpensively fabricated. Body member 1comprises a single piece of material, and is formed with a single seam,and arms 5 and elastic 8 are secured thereto by the two seams 7,assuming that the material of arms 5 is not folded over. At the sametime, multiple layers of diaper material are provided for absorbingretaining moisture without requiring special pockets for receivingseparate absorbing members, and the like, and the diaper is readilyadjustable to different sizes.

In addition, the pocket between layers 3 and 4 of body member 1, andwhich extends the length thereof readily receives a sheet of waterproofmaterial 11 therein. Thus, when it is desired to make the diaperwaterproof a sheet of waterproof material such as a suitable plastic isslipped into the pocket, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and when thediaper is fitted on the infant the waterproof member 11 will beimmediately beneath the outermost layer 3 of diaper material, leavingsufficient layers thereof for moisture absorbing and retaining purposeswhile preventing the passage of moisture completely through the diapermaterial.

This Waterproofing arrangement possesses certain distinct advantages.For example, the waterproof sheet is readily inserted when desired, andequally readily removed. Also, the sheet 11 does not completely surroundthe lower trunk of the infant, as do conventional rubber pants, wherebymy waterproofing arrangement will be much cooler and more comfortable.

Also, the arms 5 extending around the sides of the infant provide abetter and more comfortable fit, as distinguished, for example, from theconventional method of pinning the front and rear parts of the diapertogether at the sides of the infant.

Accordingly, it will be seen that my invention fully accomplishes theaforesaid objects. While I have dis- 4 closed but one preferredembodiment, my invention does not necessarily require all the details ofsuch embodiment and I intend that it be defined by the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described my invention, and itsmode of operation, what I claim as new is:

l. A diaper comprising, an elongated body member of diaper materialhaving a length approximately twice that required to fit around aninfant through the crotch thereof, said body member being a unitarypiece of material having its side edges folded over and secured to eachother to provide two layers of diaper material defining a pockettherebetween for receiving a sheet of waterproof material, a pair ofside members extending laterally from opposite sides of said body memberfor extending around opposite sides of an infant and secured to saidbody member adjacent the longitudinal mid-point thereof, and an elasticmember extending between said side members across one side of said bodymember and normally urging said side members toward each other, wherebysaid body member can be folded endwise to cover said elastic materialand double the thickness of diaper material passing through the crotchof the infant.

2. A diaper comprising, an elongated body member of diaper material,said body member comprising a single piece of diaper material having itsopposite side edge portions folded over and secured together to providetwo layers of diaper material defining therebetween a pocket extendinglengthwise of said body member, and a pair of side members extendinglaterally from opposite sides of said body member and secured theretointermediate the opposite ends thereof, the body member portion betweensaid side members and one end of said body member being of sufficientlength for fitting around an infant through the crotch thereof and theremainder of said body member being foldable over said portion to doublethe thickness of diaper material passing through the crotch of theinfant, said side members fitting around the opposite sides of theinfant for fastening to said one end of said body member, wherein saidpocket extends substantially the entire width of said body member forreceiving a sheet of waterproof material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,358,778 Sonnenberg Sept. 26, 1944 2,506,231 Meyer May 2, 19502,566,193 Grossman Aug. 28, 1951 2,620,798 OBrien Dec. 9, 1952

